BY MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
First responders from Ellinwood and Great Bend spent more than four hours in the July heat Wednesday afternoon during a water tower rescue operation at the north water tower in Ellinwood. Ellinwood EMS Director Brittney Bailey said crews were originally dispatched to the scene at approximately 1 p.m.
"We were dispatched for a male patient who had fallen while inside the water tower," she said. "We had a water cleaning crew doing routine maintenance inside the water tower. He fell while inside the tower, and we extricated him. That was an extensive extrication just because of the height and all the technical rescue that goes into that. The patient was transported by aircraft to a Wichita hospital."
Shortly after 5 p.m., Ellinwood EMS shared via Facebook that the patient had successfully been removed from the water tower. No names have been released but Bailey said the man was approximately 40 years old.
Ellinwood Fire and EMS was assisted by Great Bend Fire and EMS, the Ellinwood Police Department, and the Barton County Sheriff's Office.
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Technical rescue teams are currently working to lower the patient to the ground with the utmost care and coordination. The individual remains conscious and is being closely monitored by EMS personnel throughout the operation.
Crews from Ellinwood Fire, EMS, LEO and support from Great Bend Fire remain on scene to ensure the patient’s safe extrication and subsequent transport for medical evaluation.
Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.